The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

-Ps. 23:1-6

Growing up on a farm, I used to watch the cows, sheep & horses graze in the pasture. Each morning we would open the gate to the barnyard and they knew there was freedom from that small pen they were in. They also knew there was nice green grass beyond the barnyard. Once the gate was open, look out because those animals wanted to get where the tall, green grass grew – the pasture! They would take off sometimes even running up the old fenced lane that went up over the hill through the cornfield to the lush green pasture on the other side of the farm. There they would graze for a while then lay down and rest for a while then graze some more. They did this all day long. Come evening we would go over to the pasture’s edge and call the cows – 'come boss, 'come boss. They would gather at the pasture gate. Sometimes we would have to go round up a few stragglers and when all were accounted for, we’d open the lane gate and back over the hill they would go to the barnyard for the night. The next morning was the same routine, day after day. What a life, huh?!

Oh that we could just graze and rest in shady green pastures all day long! But we can rest and graze in God’s green pastures and restore our souls . . . The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. (Ps. 23:1) I believe God wants us to slow down and “rest” and “graze” and “feed” on His Word. Life throws so many things our way and we are so busy – busy doing good things. But are we running on empty a good share of the time? Are we feeling stretched to extreme? Are we content with who we are in God’s divine providence? Slow down and take some time to just leisurely graze, rest a while, then graze and feed on the good things God has provided for you. Graze, rest, and enjoy the “shady green pastures” of God’s abundant love, grace, and mercy.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Race of Life (Rat-Race!)

I was running the race of life, and the wind was at my back;

there was never a fairer day to run, never a smother track.

So with my head held high as the miles raced by,

I ran with careless ease.

I would run this race, I would win first place

so my Master I would please.

Then an unforseen hand rudely pushed me down,

and I fell with a thud in the cold, cruel ground;

and broken and bruised, I began to cry

as the other runners all passed me by.

"Lord, help me please! I'm tired and sore;

I don't think I can make it, I just want to die,

I don't even have what it takes to try.

And as I lay bleeding upon the ground,

a vast "cloud of witnesses" gathered round.

They were heroes of old, all the saints of the ages,

who through weakness were strong

and through faith made courageous.

They started to cheer and to wildly applaud,

and their voices rose up giving glory to God,

and then to myself I said, "How can this be?"

For the saints of the ages were cheering for me!

Then Abel cried out, "There is power in the blood!"

And Noah said, "He'll keep you safe through the flood."

Then Jacob said, "Weary one, lean on the Lord,"

And Moses cried out, "Child, look to the reward!"

Then Sarah stepped forward, holding Abraham's hand,

and they both said, "Trust God when you don't understand."

In God's promises, child, you must always believe,

For sometimes He'll do things you just can't conceive.

Come on! You can do it! Get up off your face

and run with endurance the rest of the race,

and remember, my child, when your strength is all gone,

the saints of the ages are cheering you on!"

So I rose to my feet midst their thunderous ovation

and started to run with great determination;

and that's when I saw Him, my Savior and Lord,

And I knew in my heart I must win the reward

to cast down before Him the crown that I'd won,

and to hear Him say to me, "Well done, child, well done!"

~Janice Rogers Edmiston~

Can you relate to this word picture of the race of life? Sometimes life's race seems more like a "rat race". Always chasing after that bit of cheese!! It is sometimes hard to understand as that "unforseen" hand pushes us down to the ground bruising and breaking us and our spirits. Sometimes it seems that others do run right on past us leaving us in the dust. Others get the "breaks" in life, or so it seems, the job promotions, the raises, the new cars, the new house, etc.

It is at this point the devil wants to rub it in and make us feel helpless, useless, and unworthy of anything good in our lives. But what we don't always see is that vast "cloud of witnesses" that are gathered round us. Isn't that exciting?? Isn't that challenging to think and listen real close and hear that faint, "come on, you can do it"? Sometimes that is all we need! And then we feel the energizing strength flow through us as we hear:

"Come on! You can do it! Get up off your face

and run with endurance the rest of the race,

and remember, my child, when your strength is all gone,

the saints of the ages are cheering you on!"

Keep on running your race, don't give up, pick up the pieces and carry on to the finish. Trust God to give you strength and determination to run your life's race . . . on to victory!!!

"but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward for those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:13-14﻿

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Diana Sorenson

Landlady22@aol.com

Hi, there! I'm Diana and I grew up on a little Iowa farm. I have so many memories of those "farm-fresh" days! I live in the city now so I guess that makes me a "city-farm-girl" but my heart is still in the country! As I "graze through life" I always look back to the many life lessons that I learned first hand from life on the farm.

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